It's no joke. The city is marketing two versions -- one with water from an artesian well on the Near South Side and the other containing treated water from Lake Michigan -- with an eye toward raising funds that can be used to tout Chicago tourism.

"I've been trying to do this with Chicago water for at least the last five years because I thought it would be a good revenue source," says Cultural Affairs Commissioner Lois Weisberg, who oversees city tourism efforts. "It sort of came together (as part of the city's) millennium celebration, but I think it should be an ongoing product for us."

Ms. Weisberg hopes that Chicago hotels and, eventually, restaurants will substitute Chicago-brand water for Evian, San Pellegrino and other European labels. Those sources could generate up to $300,000 annually to fund tourism initiatives.

Wholesale prices range from $8.40 to $12.96 per case, depending on the bottle size, making the water competitive with most imports. It's also sold on a per-bottle basis at Chicago tourism centers including the Water Tower.

While few travelers visit Chicago for its healing waters, hoteliers say there's nothing wrong with the local H2O.

"It's strange that a country like the U.S. has to bring in water from Europe," says Swiss-born Four Seasons General Manager Hans Willimann. "We are today paying more for the water from France than we are for the oil in our cars. It's about time we exploit our own resources."

Mr. Willimann, who has worked in hotels around the world, insists the flavor of Chicago's water is the equal of any in the world, though the Four Seasons continues to offer a variety of bottled waters. He's largely responsible for pushing the idea of selling the water to local hotels.

Ritz-Carlton General Manager Tom Kelly also reports that guests are embracing the local water. "People have been quite accepting," he says, comparing the flavor favorably with that of Evian and another French water, Vittel.

Ms. Weisberg acknowledges that most hotels are buying the water out of civic pride and to support the tourism industry, but she insists it's starting to develop a genuine following.

"We know of a Chicagoan who just got married in Washington," Ms. Weisberg says, "and she had cases of our water sent there for the wedding."